Power actuated conveyer type loader



May 19, 1953.

R. D. M DONALD POWER ACTUATED CONVEYER TYPE LOADER med Feb. 5. 1949 5Sheets-Sheet l R. D. M DO NALD POWER ACTUATED CONVEYER TYPE LOADER May19, 1953',

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 19 19 INVENTOR. I z-eJMqiozza/d "ZZp-wwamMay 19, 1953 R. D. M DONAL D 2,

POWER ACTUATED' C ONVEYER TYPE LOADER Filed Feb. 5, 1949 v 5 Sheets-Shets EN TOR.

y 9, 1953 D.'M =DONALD 2,639,022

POWER ACTUATEP .QONVEYER TYPE LOADER Filed Feb. 5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR.

y 1953 R. D. M DONALD 2,639,022

POWER ACTUATED CONVEYER TYPE LOADER Filed Feb. 5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5IN VEN TOR.

Patented May 19, 1953 wimp:

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mammal. fir-om su iae 1 v a z 1k le atin the e ialbm conveyo m intQQZWeW EQ or tn rrassom ee SK v he m a z mmlfi ai tt 0; my inv nt: Q- n9 QW Qlf-P FQP HW l ader-r m h dm -pqw m en. lem nt attqnms te sid s qtthe mnter mq is a r a wardly in di fsqtiQz-xs latt al m thepathizwadermover meet; m r m mlati e e an e t e Anett w qfth nven on. fw4 W 7 WP mien? pan t us de c ib d a, r sili nt su i. fo eede gn ye h ch11? Prb' e n. adfiutmntm det minina he 7 ma he gnt t e eq ssm y lra dt sad; J2 mhan .191 he h witn t mate:

h me? i 1 Q? a 9- 255 m wnti fe mo eghat 'mfint 1pm? a i eparateq, n p9tiqn v ar and no m ly, s pp rted rel ziveitt sai agii sv t9 V i P1wmn hme; r m be $1. 9 lane; aiqibhain COIWQYQI' be n furt e ugjceptible to vr ical: mo em n s" abo t t m nt siaxi a 9' a to va -mm is? W' mm; cenveian pl e m vmtt pain the uan it andsi Q a ri l sthe-rzl tt t fir by-"Iri 'Yny' 'lo'aldei" which e ,hQdieg the cgnyeyqr h E t tl'ele t 9 15from a 951: tthqimnt Qf thel elr,

t 11 te Figfi'i general ide*lvatio al view of a loaderembodying-'3 prferr d fdrm of my ifiven- "Fig.- 2 is' a fragmentary'top plan viewpf thefmnt portipn of the leader shown in 1;

"Fig. visavfragmentary front elevational View, drawn=t0an enlargedscale; depicting' a, portion Qf: the; structure 1 Shawn in Figs." '1"and 2;*a,nd wherein parts o-f':t -.e '-..s,trueture-: are Shawn insec'r 52% is etaide sectienal' view aken substamital t twi -5:19 i g zad-in-thenireq- Bi 6; a; fragmentary-q ses i nal view, dgawnito t ?}?3 -l1 Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side sectional view, drawn to an enlargedscale, which depicts structural details of a part of the loaderillustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of thestructuredepicted in Fig. 1, drawn to a considerably larger scale so asto depict that portion of the structure in greater detail; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary end sectional views taken substantiallyon lines 99 and ll0 of Fig. 8 respectively, and in the direc-' tionindicated by accompanying arrows.

Having reference to the general structure of my loader shown in theaccompanying drawings for illustrative purposes, such loader is depictedin Fig. 1 as a self-propelled mobile unit adapted to road work and thelike. This exemplary unit has a main chassis or frame It supported atthe rear by driven wheels [2 and at the front by steerable wheels I3. Aprime mover, such as an internal combustion engine, is mounted within ahousing M at the rear of the main frame. Carried by the main frame atone side of the loader and near the longitudinal mid-portion thereof isan operators cab I5 from which the loader may be driven and the variousoperating parts thereof controlled, and from which an operator mayobserve the operations of those operating parts.

An A-type-frame I6 is secured to and extends upwardly from the rearportion of the main frame In, and has side portions in opposedrelationship on the opposite sides of the main frame,

each of which side portions includes a rear upright IT, a diagonal brace"l8 and a horizontal brace [9. The rear uprights l1 and the diagonalbraces [B are secured together at their upper ends and each has itslower end secured to the main frame. The opposite ends of the horizontalbraces l9 are secured to the mid-portions of the rear uprights and thediagonal braces to strengthen the side frame structures. This A- typeframe structure provides an elevated rear support, relative to which therear end of an elevating conveyor 20 is supported for swinging movementin a vertical plane. In the present instance, the elevating conveyor 20isof the endless belt type having a longitudinally extending conveyorbelt 22 carried between opposed side panels 23. The front end of theelevating conveyor Z0 is supported for vertical movement relative to themain frame It] through an adjustable lifting mechanism 24. At itsextreme forward end, the elevating conveyor is provided with a plate 25sloping upwardly to a position overlying the lower end of the conveyorbelt, and across which plate material is moved to the conveyor belt.

For the purpose of feeding material across the plate 25 and to theconveyor belt, I have provided an endless chain and scraper type offeeder conveyor 26. This conveyor, in order to compen sate for operatingconditions, including the amount of material being. moved by theconveyor as well as to prevent damage thereto when rocks or large piecesof material are encountered, is preferably supported for verticalswinging movement by side arms 21; the side arms being supportedrelative to the main frame H! at their rear ends and extending forwardlyto positions ahead of the elevating conveyor and such that the feederconveyor overlies the plate 25. In the disclosed loader, the forwardends of the side arms 21 are supported for movements, relative to theforward end of the elevating conveyor by adjustable supporting elements28.

In order to broaden the path from which material is gathered by thedisclosed loader, lateral extensions 29 are provided on opposite ends ofthe plate 25, which extensions project laterally beyond the sides of theelevating conveyor 20 and are adjoined by substantially coextensive sideplates 30 having forwardly facing surfaces disposed in obtuse angularrelationship to the upper surfaces of the plate extensions 29. Onopposite sides of the feeder conveyor 25 and at positions adjacent thelateral extensions 29 of the plate 25 and in front of the side plates39, opposed screw type conveyors 3! are mounted for moving materialinwardly toward the feeder conveyor. In each instance, and as will bemore fully described, the various cooperating conveyors of my preferredloader, disclosed herein, are driven from the same prime mover which isutilized to propel the loader.

Referring in greater detail to portions of the structure which have thusfar been generally discussed, and having particular reference to Figs. 1and 6, the elevating conveyor 28 includes opposed and substantiallyparallel side channels 32 between which belt supporting rollers 33 aresupported in spaced relationship longitudinally of the channels to carrythe upper portion of the belt 22. As depicted in Fig. 6, the beltsupporting rollers 33 of my preferred structure are 'rotatably supportedat their opposite ends by bearings 34, which bearings are each supportedby a stud shaft 35 carried by a bracket 36 secured to the outer surfaceof the side channel; each stud shaft projecting inwardly of the channelthrough an opening 37 therein and being held in position at its outerend by a C-type snap ring fastener 38. Thus, the rollers 33, except forone at the upper end of the elevating conveyor which is carried by anddrivingly connected to a conveyor drive shaft 39, are free to rotate forsupporting the upper load carrying portion of the belt, while the loweror return portion of thebelt is suspended and out of engagement with therollers 33. Cleats, such as 40, may, when desired for the handling ofmany types of materials, be secured to the upper surface of the belt inspaced relationship longitudinally of the belt.

In the preferred structure of my loader, and. particularly when thatloader is to be utilized for loading material which includes relativelyfine particles, it is my preference to provide flexible webs 42 whichextend along opposite sides of the belt and which engage a marginalportion of the belt in overlying relationship. As depicted in Fig. 6,each flexible web, which may be made of a flexible and wear resistantmaterial, such as relatively heavy sheet rubber, has one side secured toan internal apron 43 on the side panel 23 at positions spacedlongitudinally of the conveyor; the web extending downwardly andinwardly from the apron in overlying contact with a substantial portionof the belt margin outside of the ends of the cleats 40.

In my disclosed structure, a main conveyor drive shaft 44 (Fig. 1)extends laterally of the main frame II], which drive shaft is driventhrough a suitable transmission (not shown) from the motor prime moverand controlled from the cab [5. An elevating conveyor drive chain 45extends upwardly along the diagonal brace IS on the side of the conveyoropposite the cab I5 from a sprocket 46 drivingly secured to the end ofthe main conveyor drive shaft 44.

iqn to. up ortin the.

@ 1 axis fon he firt ail sw n in mg; eleyatm som za 1 so. ha a hQ MmQ@Qnveyorlh wm the main conveyor drive shaft 44 is sup tag iX S-Qf me haiJ-i xtllfilma nntr zm;lflbag ithg shai fifi m 30 OfRtheJQ-WelW-BIIQ-Df1741 mounted, is ,coaxial with drivenifroj .v A H I A of side; airsh 1rptatablyisunpmrtgm 61 9 .5. shaft i y'i I 1, 19 which is'preferablytiAbAJ-lal' injseqtion. and

i ch-th be w j which t nly xt and gtw n mm arm ut alsQprojeqts a; sut santial di j anw qnfithe utsid s o $1112 a ms, Btweenfthe smearin Z1;rirqckeii 8L0 Fare drivin l w q-ur a he .s ait by fas en n m ll imh a blfil p r q ke fifllb nals rated: adis an hi hiis preferably sibmqwli filq' sL han-fihq rld 7 e e ting; convvyorh and spaced inwardlyflof; theidqhrm Add tional. SproQQe s 813, r falig .eg with h spmcls sr ,7 u ied'Q haft .84

in. Iogzyrin.'101giksi, mm? H U r 2mm ufiq 'r w rc ly of the 12 iroin',tjns ,sp psgk ts 8.9; 8 121 above 1 the,v 10w mi i hlq elfim in s nwyr- "The al gn d spr lsm. ML nd fii lr tld efii 90. vycnichains I1 x wh cccinm f h ins. have scram b ades .1 SQZwredw th ir ou r 1 sol sio nmjebjoutwarclly irom the chail fa egandqex qn apmss m chain in d r'einiifl-g.e D%Ifll1$31 t the axi o tin: s att l9 and; P efe y, hqndSO filmblad' that-qut n uxvfa Q bnw vin 5fi remdm fi w I portion rtpead i l ep54 an Lg cur eiso 1:11am thfin n rmk du qis hsvcnwexgr As depicted inEgg 9, tbs; juurnalledibetw gngspa in 9911M aasha'fti 6.3 whi h shafl ssecurfi ported between cover platgsi M: allfil IP11? mQu'nt-ing of the.idlfinsprocket- 59- illugfqra ted in. Eigsufl .and- 1.0; tis earx gi x651-; which: extends; through; an m; thavcavern 111M954; and. a eufastening. means .such as a nut QB; bein spacedimm m Qi lama-flan i 11b; 5 pfifii'ti nin aQfifihfifiQHQ-QBE? in normal loading operations.Furthermore, resilience in the support of the feeder conveyor isdesirable in a propelled loader of the type disclosed, in order to limitshock forces on the loader structure which result from movements overrough terrain or the encountering of rocks or large pieces of material,as aforementioned. The desirable variations in the normal elevation ofthe feeder conveyor and the preferred resilience in the support thereofare provided for in the disclosed loader by the adjustable supportingelements 28.

As depicted in Figs. 1 and '7, the adjustable supporting elements 28include telescopically engaging cylinders 88 and 89 fitted together foraxial sliding movement relative to one another. The inner one of thecylinders 89 has a closed inner end 90, while the other end of thatcylinder is open and is provided with a radial flange 92 projectingoutwardly. In like manner, the end of the outer cylinder 88 into whichthe cylinder 89 extends is normally open, while a closure plate 93 sealsthe other end of the cylinder 88 and provides a peripheral flange 94projecting radially from the cylinder at that end. A compression spring95 has its turns encompassing the telescopically engaged cylinders andis disposed between the flanges 92 and 94 thereon. In each instance(there being like loading elements 28 on each side of the loader forsupporting the feeder conveyor) the springs 95 have strength such thatthe telescopically engaged cylinders 88 and 89 are normally biased to apartially extended position against the load of the feeder conveyorstructure supported thereby. The springs 85 thus provide resilience inthe support of the feeder conveyor.

In addition to the resilient support for the feeder conveyor which isprovided by the combination of the telescopically engaged cylinders 88and 89 and the intervening compression spring, the inner cylinder 89 hasa hydraulic piston 96 fitted into the open end thereof to form anadjustable hydraulic jack which serves to ex-- tend or retract thelength of each supporting element without interfering with theresilience or action of the springs 95. Preferably, a block of resilientmaterial 97 is secured to the inner end of the piston to determine theretracted position thereof and absorb shock when the piston moves intoits cylinder. Downward movement of the side arms 27, however, is limitedby stop blocks NH secured to the forward ends of the main frame I8, asshown in Fig. 3, in position for engagement with the bottoms of thearms. The height of the blocks lOI is determined so as to preventcontact of the scraper blades 81 with the plate 25. The plate 93 at theend of the cylinder 88 has an angularly disposed portion 98 thereonwhich is secured to a bracket 99 on the side arm 21. Also, a bracketHill which is secured to and projects forwardly from the main frame I8is connected to and supports the outer end of the hydraulic piston 96.With supporting elements of this type, it may be readily understood thatthe feeder conveyor is supported for vertical movements relative to theelevating conveyor, and that resilience is provided in the supportregardless of the adjusted position of the feeder conveyor.

The feeder conveyor 26, like the elevating conveyor 20, is driven from asprocket I l I secured to the end of the main conveyor drive shaft 44through a drive chain I02 enclosed within a housing I03 extendingupwardly and forwardly to a sprocket I 04 which is journalled forrotation on the top of one of the side arms 21. Another sprocket IDS isdrivingly connected to the sprocket I04 and carries one end of a secondfeeder conveyor drive chain I06, which latter chain, at its other end,is carried by a sprocket I01 secured to the end of the shaft 84; thelatter of which shafts has the feeder conveyor sprockets 83 securedthereto. By preference, the chain 106 is enclosed within a housing [08.Since the arms 21 are mounted for free vertical swinging movement on anaxis coinciding with that of the main conveyor drive shaft, suchswinging movements of the arms do not affect the tension of the feederconveyor drive chain I02. Both ends of the second feeder conveyor drivechain move with the side arm, so that the tension thereof is unaffectedby side arm movements.

Preferably, the bearing block 85, for each side arm, as depicted in Fig.5, is mounted for movement longitudinally of the side arm, in order toadjust the tension of the feeder conveyor chains 86. In the disclosedstructure, the position of each such bearing block is determined by ascrew I09 threaded into a collar H0 secured to the side arm and havingan end abutting the bearing block on the side opposed to the normaltension of the adjacent feeder conveyor chain.

In the disclosed structure, and as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, eachscrew type-conveyor 31 comprises an edgewise wound metal strip H2 havingan outer diameter corresponding closely to that of the arc defined bythe outer edges of the scraper blades as they pass over the periphery ofthe sprocket 80. In addition to concentrically encompassing theprojecting end portion of the shaft 19, the turns of the strip extendaxially of each projecting end of the shaft 19 to form helices. Eachhelix is supported relative to the projecting end of the shaft by aseries of radial spokes H3 secured to the shaft and to the strip. Also,the axial displacement of successive portions of each helical strip isso related to the normal direction of movement of the feeder conveyor'26 and shaft 19 that material is moved inwardly toward the feederconveyor thereby as the operation of the loader progresses, these screwtype conveyors being backed by the lateral extensions 29 of the plate 25andthe laterally extending side plates 30 to increase theireffectiveness. The screw type conveyors, being driven through and fromthe feeder conveyor during the operation of the loader, deliver materialto the feeder conveyor and extend the effective width of the pathcovered by the loader.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a loader, the combination comprising a main chassis, an elevatingconveyor, a feeder conveyor mounted at the lower end of the elevatingconveyor for moving material to the elevating conveyor, each of saidconveyors being movable in a vertical plane, means for adjustconveyor,and means acting between the feeder conveyor and the front end of themain chassis below the feeder conveyor to adjust the latter, said meanscomprising two members slidably engaged for linear movement with respectto one another, a spring normally biasing said members to a partiallyextended position relative to one another, one of said members beingconnected to said one end of the feeder conveyor, and a third memberconnected with the front end of the main chassis below the feederconveyor and cooperating with the other of said members to form anextensible hydraulic jack.

2. In a loader, the combination comprising a main chassis, an elevatingconveyor mounted for swinging movement about one end on the main chassisand sloping downward from said one end, a feeder conveyor positionedover the lower end of the elevating conveyor, a carrier for the feederconveyor extending beyond one end of the feeder conveyor, meansproviding a swinging mounting of a region of the carrier beyond the saidone end of the feeder conveyor on the main chassis below the elevatingconveyor, and means connecting the carrier adjacent the said one end ofthe feeding conveyor and the main chassis below the last mentionedregion so as to provide adjustable and floating support of the feedingconveyor, the last mentioned means comprising telescoping cylindershaving flanges, a spring acting between the flanges to make the feederconveyor and its carrier float on the main chassis, and a pistonslidable in one of the cylin- 10 ders so as to cooperate therewith toform an hydraulic device to adjust the feeder conveyor and its carrieron the main chassis.

3. The combination specified in claim 2 and further comprising anhydraulic device for adjusting the elevating conveyor on the main chas-RAYMORE D. MACDONALD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,422,002 Shaw July 4, 1922 1,463,654 McNulty July 31, 19231,505,476 London Aug. 19, 1924 1,706,313 Newdick Mar. 19, 1929 1,764,084Nelson et a1 June 17, 1930 2,030,063 Halleck Feb. 11, 1936 2,208,128Holbrook et a1 July 16, 1940 2,315,091 Fees Mar. 30, 1943 2,317,644Russell Apr. 27, 1943 2,323,363 Biedess July 6, 1943 2,364,282 Fees Dec.5, 1944 2,366,536 Levin Jan. 2, 1945 2,368,353 Fulper Jan. 30, 19452,425,695 Fees Aug. 12, 1947 2,430,945 OBrien Nov. 18, 1947 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 275,073 Great Britain Aug. 4, 1927

